Operational Solutions Ltd (OSL), a leading counter-drone technologies business headquartered in Berkshire, is setting its sights on the overseas market as it aims to build on a period of significant growth. OSL has not only doubled its number of employees over the last 12 months, but its revenue has also increased by over 50%.
Founded in 2010, OSL works with major international airports, critical national infrastructure, and defence markets to address the growing challenges posed by the increasing prevalence of drones.
With an already impressive portfolio of customers including Heathrow Airport and US aerospace business Lockheed Martin Corporation, OSL is now looking to further expand its presence across Europe, Asia and Australia.
BGF’s £8 million funding in 2021 has given the company the means to rapidly fast-track its growth ambitions. This has included bringing in a host of new talent, particularly in R&D, engineering, and business development.
The appointment of new key personnel has helped pave the way for the recent release of OSL’s new Drone Alert Service (DAS) to provide an accessible and intuitive hardware-free drone detection solution, which is already proving popular with entry-level users.
OSL is now also helping the UK Government shape future flight strategy, as Project HADO®, a consortium led by OSL to accelerate the commercial adoption of autonomous drones in high intensity environments, continues to gather pace.
Last year, OSL announced its acquisition of AI and video analytics company Rinicom Intelligent Solutions (RIS), which has enabled the company to significantly enhance its capabilities for the delivery of world-leading situational intelligence.
Mark Legh-Smith, CEO of OSL, said: “As demonstrated by our work as part of Project HADO®, OSL now has the technical capabilities to rise to even the most complex challenges. As we bring new products and capabilities to market, we’re seeing growing interest in our services worldwide.
“As we continue to embark on an exciting period of growth, we remain more committed than ever to technical innovation to help safeguard some of the world’s busiest airspaces. I am extremely proud of how the business has grown since receiving investment from BGF.”
Liam Pursall, investor at BGF, added: “After successfully harnessing BGF backing and strategic input to build on already strong foundations, we are thrilled to see OSL make such an impressive leap forward in a relatively short space of time.’
“A combination of market-leading technology and a highly knowledgeable leadership team will enable OSL to shape the worldwide counter-drone landscape for the long term. We are looking forward to working with Mark and his team as the company continues to accelerate growth and strengthen its position in a fast-moving international market.”
